Effect of nitrogen fertilizers on ammonia volatilization in wild blueberry production

Abstract

Environmental losses of soil-applied N-fertilizers through ammonia volatilization were examined. Volatilization trials were established in the vegetative phase of wild blueberry production in Nova Scotia (NS) and Prince Edward Island (PE) in 2004 and 2005. Treatments consisted of no fertilizer (control) and N applications (35 kg N ha-1) of ammonium sulphate (AS), diammonium phosphate (DAP), urea (U) and sulphur coated urea (SCU). When compared with the control, results indicated significantly elevated volatilization rates for U (303% NS in 2004, 274% PE in 2005), SCU (273% NS in 2004, 205% PE in 2005) and DAP (178% PE in 2005). Results indicate that volatilization losses are significant, site specific and may contribute to reductions in nutrient availability. Key words: Nitrogen, wild blueberry, environmental losses, ammonia, volatilization